January 3, 2008
GW

Director Claire hung up the phone. He had been right so far. While his superiors weren't entirely pleased with his lack of progress in bringing his area under control, they accepted his excuses when he was able to provide the names of many of the resistors and proof of their death, to them.

Still he knew that he was in trouble. His area should have been pacified sooner. Up to this time, everything had come off without a hitch. Scalar attacks, which had created the earthquakes in California had done a great deal of damage. Millions had been killed. Their master had been pleased with that sacrifice. He had also been pleased when the mega- hurricane had hit the eastern part of the country. It had seemed a waste to him to nuke what was left of Los Angles. The weapon would have been put to better use on the Hoover Dam, in his opinion. But it wasn't his right to question what the master wanted. That was a very unhealthy thing to do. Right now, he had to get things back on schedule. These people, mostly those hated Christians, HAD to be either captured, or killed. What was it they said in this country? 'Failure is not an option.' he remembered. Well, that was certainly the position he was in, and things were not going his way.

He knew, it was time to become inventive. Something had to be done to get these people out of hiding, but what? Slowly an idea came to him. Not an idea really, but a memory from a little over a half a century or so back.

What was that Jews' name? It didn't matter. He remembered the Jewish leader in Warsaw during the early years of WW II. He had convinced him that it was in the best interest of his people to not fight the Germans, But to live in the ghettos they had sent up. Once the vast majority of them were in the ghettos, they had starved them into a weakened state. When they started to fight back, they had nowhere to run. It was slaughter, pure and simple. The master had been pleased with that one. All he had to do was find someone the Christians would trust, and do it all over again. He might even have to appear to this fool as an angel of light, but it would work. He knew it would. Now all he had to do was find one of those types among the prisoners.

He glanced at the body in the corner. Again, he had his doubts about Manuel. She didn't last any time at all. However, this was Manuel's last chance to prove himself, otherwise, he would be replaced just as Jose' had been. He stabbed a button on the desk.

"Bring me the list of all the preacher prisoners. And get someone in here to clean up this mess."

---

Alex was happily eating his third sandwich from the ones Kathy had quickly made just before they had left home. Not surprisingly, Bob never left his side, waiting patiently for his son to finish, before asking anything more. It was Tim who finally remembered the pistol on the ground, and had given it back to Bob, after brushing off the dirt. After accepting it, with thanks, Bob had quickly taken it apart, checked it to make certain all the dirt had been removed, reassembled the weapon, and then returned it to the holster.

"That was so good." Alex said, "Thank you very much." Turning to his father he spoke again. "Dad I owe you an apology. All those things you told me over the years, since they didn't happen right away, I started to doubt you. After awhile, I just quit listening. Now, I know you were right, and I was stupid not to listen to you. I'm sorry."

"Forget it son. I knew you had quit listening to me some time back. But I still had to warn you. I still kept on praying for you. And you have no idea how happy I am to see you again. So tell me. How did you get here? The last I heard, your town had been surrounded."

Alex smiled, "I may have been mistaken not listening to you, but I'm not stupid. Let me start back at the beginning. You see, three days ago, just like everyone else, I was sitting at home. Just before martial law was declared, I had filled my gas tank in case I had to run. Then, well Dad, I know you will believe me, but the rest of you will have to take my word for it, I was sitting in my apartment wondering what was going to happen next, and what to do about it, when an angel showed up. I've got to tell you, it really shook me up."

Out of the corner of his eye, Bob saw Kathy look over at him with a knowing look, but she said nothing.

"Anyway, the angel told me that I had to leave. I didn't even have time to pack a lunch. He literally forced me out the door, down the stairs, and into the car before I could do a thing. Now here is the funny part. Do you remember the 'back roads atlas' you gave me awhile back? I left it in the trunk. But all of a sudden it was in his hands, and he traced out a route for me to take. And the really strange thing is the the route he pointed out became kind of 'highlighted' and stayed that way. Then he disappeared. I just followed the map 'til I got here. When I did, the car just died, and I haven't been able to get it started since then. I've still got gas, and there is nothing wrong with it that I can figure out, it just won't start. I think I know why now."

"I think so too."

"So, what do we do now?"

"We wait. Let me tell you something. We've had an angelic guide to get us here. Just as we stopped, he left. I don't intend to do anything until he comes back."

"O.K., O.K., I've listened up to now without saying anything, but come on guys, angelic guides? Who do you think you are kidding?" Tim said.

"Tim, I've seen one of them too. He was sitting on the hood of Bob's truck, pointing the way here. Believe what they are telling you. It's true. I KNOW!" Kathy told her husband.

"Et tu, Kathy? How can you believe this? Why haven't they had anything to say to me?"

Bob answered. "Most likely because of two things. First, your own words show you don't believe that such a thing is possible. Second, what COULD they have to say to someone that doesn't believe in such things? You'd just find a reason to dismiss the warning. Hallucinations or something. Point is, there is something about you two and your children that The Lord has seen, and He likes what He saw, or you wouldn't be here. You'd be lying dead in whatever may be left of your home."

Bob stood and streached. "It's been a long night for all of us. I don't intend to start out again until dark, or our guide returns, which ever comes first. I'd like to put Alex and Tom on guard together, while the rest of us get some sleep."

"If we are being protected, why post a guard? Don't you think that God can take care of us?" Tim asked.

"Certainly He can. But He also expects us to do whatever we can to take care of ourselves, and trust Him for the rest. Do you remember the story of Nehemiah? God had instructed him to get the walls around Jerusalem repaired. God could have protected him, but Nehemiah posted guards anyway. Seems like a good plan to me."

GW, Vietnam Vet